Blue Whales. The PlaneT s largest animal

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1 Blue Whales The PlaneT s largest animal In the warm blue waters off the southern tip of Sri Lanka where the visibility is an astonishing 100 feet of marine paradise with ocean temps well into the 80s, we will have the privilege of interacting with these magnificent whales in a way few humans will ever truly understand.

2 here s a taste of what you have to look forward to......on our third day searching for blues, we were out about 9 miles off shore. the sky was cloudless and light blue with the sun brightly shining over our heads, and the sea was clear and calm. you just expected something to happen, like the calm before a storm. the crew searched the horizon while my guests were relaxing and falling a sleep. the engine was off and we were motionless and silent. the only sound I could hear was that of the boat bouncing against the surface of the water and the deep breathing of my guests. the skipper wanted to move the boat but I declined; I knew we were in the right place. At about noon I heard a loud sound, but could not yet locate its direction. then came a second louder noise closely followed by a third one that was even closer. A Blue was only 50 feet away along side our vessel. Quickly I woke up the two guests that were sleeping by my side, and I took position on the vessel s edge. With my fins dangling in the cool water, mask on my face, camera in my hands, snorkel in my mouth, I held onto the vessel canopy, ready to enter the clear blue water, but it was not yet the right time. the whale swam just past us and now was in front of our vessel. then a few minutes later one more blow was heard arriving from the stern of our vessel. A second blow was just behind us. I gave the signal to my two guests to enter the water as gently as possible. As I slid into the liquid environment, a pleasant shiver went through my body as the soft, warm water engulfed my skin, a welcoming water sensation. Suspended in the water on the surface floating over a deep canyon, I looked up to search for the Blue whale. there it was just in front of my eyes only 15 feet away! We faced each other, and I was fixated by the size of its head and jaw. I did not move. three feet away on my left side, I saw my two guests hypnotized by the moment, mesmerized by the sight of this gentle giant s huge head and jaw. We all were motionless, just floating. Slowly I raised my camera and squeezed off a few frames before the light ocean current drifted us along the body length of this surface sleeping Blue whale. A sensational 15 seconds in the life of a BigAnimals Expeditions adventurer. the pygmy blue whale, a subspecies of the blue whale, inhabits Sri Lanka s Indian ocean and the southern Pacific ocean west of Chile. At feet long it can hardly be called a pygmy, but this particular variety of blue whale differs from the true blue whale in a few physical characteristics. they have broader and shorter baleen plates, a proportionately longer body in front of their dorsal fin, and a large head relative to its body size; the tail is a bit shorter as well. It is difficult to imagine just how huge these whales are until you re in the water with them. their hearts can weight as much as a car, their tongues may exceed the weight of an elephant, and 2,500 gallons of blood circulate constantly to keep this whale alive. they feed almost exclusively on krill and other plankton, and adult blue can consume 8,000 pounds of krill daily in order to power their massive bodies. Exceeding lengths of 100 feet and weights of 180 tons, blue whales are the largest living animals on the planet. Even newborn babies are 25 feet long and drink over 100 gallons of their mother s milk every day! It is estimated that due to aggressive whaling in decades past, the current population of blue whales in the world is at about 5% of the historic population, with approximately 15,000 of an original 300,000 whales remaining worldwide. While the population has rebounded from an estimated 1,000 whales in the mid-1950s and they are now fully protected by many management practices and fishing regulations, it is critical to promote further protection and conservation of these blue giants. the opportunity to witness and photograph these amazing whales is only part of this unique trip. Sperm whales, pilot whales, and giant pods of spinner and common dolphins also inhabit these waters, and we will regularly enter the water to enjoy the company of these other majestic cetaceans.

3 nature at its Best. listen to Your heart Pound. there it was just in front of my eyes only 15 feet away! We faced each other, and I was fixated by the size of its head and jaw. I did not move. Accommodations our four-star accommodations, Mosvold Villas, are located in Ahangama Village along the Weligama coast. Featuring luxurious waterfront suites, amenities include a pool, restaurant and bar, plus complimentary Wi-Fi. the house reef is an ideal snorkeling location. the Villas are approximately 84 miles from Colombo and 93 miles from Bandaranaike International Airport. Each airconditioned suite has wooden furnishings with white interiors and splashes of color, a flat-screen satellite tv, minibar, coffee maker, plus a private bathroom. this charming location delivers the simplicity and peace of a home, along with everything you would expect in a luxury hotel.. For almost thirty years, Sri Lanka has been plagued by political turmoil. Paradoxically, this has resulted in the protection of marine wildlife in its surrounding waters. the government s policy of forbidding civilians to fish or travel within ten miles offshore has allowed cetacean life such as the pygmy blue whale, sperm whale, and common and spinner dolphins, to flourish. Five years ago, when the conflict ended, peace brought worldwide interest in Sri Lankan tourism. Whale watching boomed. Big Animals Expeditions, along with one of the largest local tour operators, determined that eco-tourism was crucial. together, we encouraged the Sri Lanka navy to establish ecological standards to protect the whales environment while developing safe adventure access for research, whale watching, and diving. BigAnimals Expeditions provides intimate encounters with these incredibly beautiful and gentle giants. In the warm blue waters off the southern tip of Sri Lanka where the visibility is an astonishing 100 feet of marine paradise with ocean temps well into the 80s, we will have the privilege of interacting with these magnificent whales in a way few humans will ever truly understand. their commanding presence in the water is undeniable and overwhelming, and through this BigAnimals experience, you will become one of a select group of people lucky enough to share the sea with these amazing animals in such intimate quarters. Every effort is made not to disturb the whales. this is achieved by limiting our team only to four guests and when encounter time arrives we send only two people into the water to view the incoming whale. Eco-tourism Whales are acoustically sensitive cetaceans that shy away from noise pollution. Big Animals Expeditions led the way in protecting these Sri Lankan whales. the country is now deeply involved in governing and protecting access to the species. our quiet engines and experienced guides ensure a conscientious approach to the blue whales that navigate these warm, clear waters. our Boat Araylia II Araylia II, 10.5 meters in length, and has twin 300 hp, 4-stroke engines. She has a stereo, fridge, kitchenette, and on board-toilet, and can hold 12 people, but we only bring four guests. the boat is equipped with communication and navigation systems. Wide-angle personal photography instruction allows every guest the knowledge needed to capture images of the entire whale.

4 Sri Lanka s Blue Whales March 26-Apr. 3 April 2-10, 2017 WorLdWIdE BLuE WhALE ExPErIEnCE: 19 years WhErE: Sri Lanka JoShuA BArton Expedition Leader Joshua Barton is a u.s. businessman based in Bangalore, India. When not running his project management firm, Joshua is putting together diving and terrestrial expeditions to remote and biologically rich regions of the world. From whale sharks off Somaliland to Sun Bears in Sumatra, Joshua has shown an ability to conceptualize and execute unique excursions that cannot be bought with a click on a travel site. Joshua shoots semi-professionally and besides being a contributor to publications through reuters, he also has published in International Wildlife, Saevus, Sanctuary, and many other magazines and books around the world. Since his son was very small, Joshua has devoted a big piece of the summer to taking his son nathan on expeditions all over the world; trips that combine adventures on land and sea and which also involve exposure to scientific and conservation work being carried out by worthy organizations. From mantas off Mozambique to humpbacks in reunion, Joshua has shown his son some of the world s most fascinating wildlife and the people working to conserve it. Enhance your photographic skills with Joshua. the Experience is Priceless! BigAnimals unique Services raising the bar of services in every adventure we operate around the world is our policy. We lead by example with immaculate safety record. Each wildlife expedition is carefully scouted before offered to the public and we schedule departures only during peak animal presence and behavior displays, led by Joshua Barton and based on Amos nachoum s 35 years of diving and photographing ocean Giants. our Blue Whale Expeditions are strictly limited to only 4 privileged guests. this is with consideration of the whale s welfare and behavior, your safety and provides you with room to move freely, ample space in which to photograph and film with personalized attention and advice. dates: Mar. 26-Apr. 3 and Apr. 2-10, 2017 duration: 9 days MAx no. of GuEStS: 4 divers or snorkelers PrICInG: $9,800 p.p. Excludes airfare, based on double occupancy registration: deposit of $3,200 ACCoMModAtIon: Land-based operation from Mosvold Villas VESSEL: 35 feet Araylia II daily: Eight-hour excursions to view whales. ACtIVItIES: Snorkeling and free diving temperature: Water temp. 84 F Air temp F trip PrICE InCLudES: 1-night stay at Galle Face hotel in Colombo. transportation between all hotels and airports. 7 nights and 8 days stay at the four star Mosvold Villas hotel in Weligama. Breakfast at the hotel. Lunches will be provided on board the vessel Six days of searching and snorkeling with blue and sperm whales. only four guests Joshua Barton, expedition leader Filming permit. All fees and taxes trip PrICE ExCLudES: Gratuity to the vessel crew Items of private use Meals which are not specified unused portion of the activity due to weather or personal choice overweight luggage. drinks and taxes.

5 Blue Whales itinerary Mar. 26-Apr. 3 & Apr. 2-10, 2016 day 1 MAr 26, or APr 2 Arrive in Colombo: transfer to for overnight stay at colonial time architecture Galle Face hotel. day 2 MAr 27, or APr 3 depart the following morning by private coach to beach front Mosvold Villas in Weligama. day 3-8 MAr 28-APr 2, or APr 4-9 Six days eight-hour days of searching for blue and sperm whales. Both lunch and water will be served on board. Bring maximum sun protection, long sleeved shirts, hats, and sunglasses for daily long distance cruising. Sea conditions are mostly calm to moderate, with rising winds in the afternoon. day 9 - return APr 3, or APr 10 We pack up for our return to Colombo in time for an early evening visit to the Galle Face hotel. Sri Lanka s iconic historic waterfront hotel built in 1864 is located in the heart of Colombo. We provide you airport transfer according to your flight - majority of international flights depart late at night or in the early hours of the morning, just after midnight. travel documents: Please note that Sri Lanka now requires VISAs prior to arrival please check with your consulate or embassy for details. u.s. citizens are required to have a valid passport, Sri Lanka VISA, and round-trip air ticket. *Trip details, e.g., dates, prices, vessel, accommodations, are subject to change without prior notice unless deposit is received and application is approved PAyMEnt PoLICy And deposit: When we receive your deposit, we will send you a comprehensive and detailed trip Preparation Bulletin about the experience and the destination. A deposit of 33% of the total trip price is required to secure space on the trip. Full payment is due no later than 90 days before departure. We reserve the right to sell any space that is not paid in full by 60 days before departure. CAnCELLAtIon PoLICy: -Must be made in writing. -More than 90 days before trip: deposit will be refunded in full. -90 days or less before trip: deposit will be refunded if space is sold, less unrecoverable costs of sales, and administration costs. -no refund is made for unused part of the itinerary. the following are subject to change: -Cost of services which are not included in the expedition price -Flight time and schedule -Weather, water temperature, and animal behavior

6 ApplicAtion Form Expedition Sri Lanka Blue Whales Expeditions Dates, Mar. 26-Apr. 3, Apr. 2-10, 2017 PErSonAL information First name Last name Date of Birth Gender: Female Male Address City State Zip Work Phone home Phone Citizen of Passport # Place issued & Date trip price $9,600 per person. Deposit of 1/3 of trip price is required to secure space = $3,200 non-refundable. Final paymen due 90 days before departure. Please make your check payment to BigAnimals Expeditions, 189 Evans Ave #A, Pacific Grove, CA overseas payment can be done via bank wire, instructions will be sent to you upon receipt of this application. Promotional code travel insurance: yes no Provider Policy # travel insurance is prerequisite and mandatory on BigAnimals adventures. We need to have your policy number. the activity on this expedition is Free diving/snorkeling. no Scuba Diving Experience required and no Scuba diving is offered. Do you carry diving insurance? yes no Provider Policy # Diving Experience/years in Diving Where & When Last 3 Dive Experiences? how do you rate your Diving Skills? Beginner inter Advanced Expert how do you rate your Photography and/or Video skills? no interest Beginner inter Advanced Expert